Liverpool is the latest northern city to set up a Fairness Commission to remind local people and the Government nationally of the disproportionate effects of hard times.

The idea was pioneered by York, with the blessings of Archbishop John Sentamu, and the Guardian Northerner has reported on its progress, including the idea of a tourist tax, here, here and here.

Liverpool's commission has just delivered its first report under the chairmanship of Claire Dove, the chief executive of Blackburne House women's technology and education centre. Its central recommendation is a 'Liverpool living wage' for a city which, overall, is England's most deprived local authority.

Although London has wards which score lower on the index of deprivation, Liverpool has been in bottom place since 2004, for all its undoubted success in reviving the city centre and promoting hugely popular events such as the recent Sea Odyssey. During his recent involvement with creating a local economic strategy, Lord Heseltine was concerned and disappointed at how many fundamental economic indicators were little changed since his energetic involvement in the 1980s.

The commission is working on obvious but challenging, practical ways of increasing economic growth such as the creation of more private sector and social businesses, tackling of health inequalities and making use of existing skills and knowledge, but sees the living wage as a flagship. Dove says:

It is a realisable ideal that sums up our vision for a city that affirms the integrity and value of all its citizens. But it will need all the city's public institutions, businesses, community groups and citizens working together, and a new, more focused and accountable model of civic leadership.

Here's a brief video with Dove talking about the initiative. The private sector, which would have to meet the wage, is beginning to get on board. One of the commission's members Steve Parry, managing director of Neptune Developments, says:

Businesses succeed through the efforts of talented, fulfilled and appropriately rewarded staff. I believe that the idea of a Living Wage makes economic as well as ethical sense.

The report also launches a citywide campaign called Come2gether which divides into emphases on the community, enterprise, the young and achieving a lasting legacy. Members from both the public and private sector call unanimously for help for business start-ups including mentoring by those already up and running successfully; a sustainable allowance for people from low-income families to attend training and education programmes for jobs; and a citywide adoption of a Liverpool Fairness Charter.This has ten steps to fairness, on the American model of achieving everything in 'easy' stages, and has already been signed by the likes of Liverpool university, Liverpool Hope university, Unison and private sector firms. Elaine Bowker, principal of Liverpool Community College and a commission member, says:

It's important that we don't allow the progress that has been made in educational attainment to stall. Local employers need a well educated and skilled workforce and we need our young people to have the opportunity of worthwhile employment.

The ten steps include a commitment to support and develop education and employment, targeting those in greatest need, keeping fairness at the heart of decision-making and using the increased wealth generated through economic growth to reduce income differentials. Liverpool's Labour elected Mayor Joe Anderson says:

Creating a fairer society should be at the heart of our decision making and the commission has set a challenging set of recommendations. It is a challenge we must meet. A Living Wage for Liverpool would be a key way of reducing poverty and making a fairer city and all partners need to work together to help bring this about.